Chapter 14: Wind and Snow Tavern, Wangyue Mountain, Purple Lion Goose
Awakening, Ye Yang felt his fatigue completely gone, and planned to depart for the Wind and Snow Tavern that afternoon.
The Wind and Snow Tavern was over three hundred li from the Zhang Family’s base, so it was better to leave early to avoid spending the night in the wilderness.
Zhang Tong said, “The Clan Chief was seriously injured yesterday and has not yet woken up. I will go report this now.”
Perhaps Zhang Tong’s report had an effect, for as soon as Ye Yang finished tidying his belongings in the room, he received a message from Zhang Liaoyuan, the Zhang Family Clan Chief, inviting him to gather at the Banquet Guest Building.
…
The Banquet Guest Building was tall and spacious, with a row of towering welcoming pines planted in front of its steps.
Ye Yang sat in the best seat of honor in the Banquet Guest Building. Zhang Liaoyuan, the Zhang Family Clan Chief, dragged his weary body, his face like golden paper, as if he had not fully recovered.
As for "Zhang Family Fiery Blade" Zhang Feng, he was still bedridden due to severe injuries from the battle with the Giant Crocodile, having lost an arm.
After expressing his gratitude to Protector Ye, he did not come.
In front of Zhang Liaoyuan were two warm yellow brocade boxes with cloud patterns. One box contained two crocodile eggs the size of sea bowls.
The crocodile eggs had already been wiped clean of bloodstains, and their blue surface with black spots shimmered with a halo, looking quite extraordinary.
The other brocade box contained three arm-thick sections of white lotus root, crisp, juicy, plump, and white.
Zhang Liaoyuan spoke with a hint of weakness.
“Many thanks to Protector Ye for your generous assistance this time; otherwise, the Zhang Family’s losses would have been much greater.”
“Please accept these items, Protector Ye.”
“The crocodile hide is tough and thick. I have already ordered the old craftsmen and leatherworkers to tan it overnight to make a set of inner armor for Protector Ye. It should be finished by tomorrow and will be sent to Protector Ye then.”
These items were all obtained from the expedition, and the Zhang Family offered most of the gains from slaying the crocodile, especially the two Giant Crocodile eggs, which were given without taking a single piece, showing full sincerity.
Ye Yang naturally would not refuse.
Since the Zhang Family Clan Chief was so generous, Ye Yang naturally did not want to be a spoilsport and praised him in turn.
“The success of this battle was mainly due to the Zhang Family’s thorough preparation and elite forces. I only played an auxiliary role.”
Ye Yang’s words were not false; although he had blinded the Giant Crocodile.
But if it weren't for the combined efforts of the Zhang Family members, coupled with the advantage of Magical Artifacts, barbed wire, and 符弩, this Giant Crocodile would certainly not have been subdued so easily.
A bitter smile appeared in Zhang Liaoyuan’s heart. As the most cultivated person present in this battle, his performance was undoubtedly subpar, otherwise, there would have been fewer casualties.
On the contrary, the person before him, though not old, remained calm and cautious when facing battle, never flustered.
His control over the rhythm of battle deeply astonished and even envied Zhang Liaoyuan.
Zhang Liaoyuan sighed, then adjusted himself. He clapped his hands, and two maids immediately entered.
These two maids carried a bamboo basket, which contained four small geese, only a foot long, with cinnabar-red beaks and purple feathers, like purple clouds, shimmering with iridescent light.
Especially the feather decorations on their heads, standing erect like a male lion’s mane, making them exceptionally majestic.
“These are Purple Lion Goose hatchlings that the Zhang Family found deep within the Bihu Marsh. There are two males and two females here, enough to propagate a clan. They are specially offered to the Sect.”
Ye Yang was startled to hear this. This Purple Lion Goose was a legendary spiritual bird.
Its meat is tender, plump, and juicy, growing only in places with spiritual water and springs, making it extremely rare.
Prolonged consumption can purify Impurities within the body, enhance cultivation, and even prolong life.
In ancient texts, the Purple Lion Goose was described as one of the finest delicacies; however, due to their extremely strict requirements for living environment and low reproductive capacity, Purple Lion Geese gradually became a legend among people.
“Clan Chief Zhang, you have truly rendered a great service this time!” If these Purple Lion Geese can multiply into a clan, they will surely become a valuable treasure for our Sect.”
Ye Yang couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. The Luo River at the foot of the Sect mountain was just right for raising this creature.
Zhang Liaoyuan smiled faintly, secretly pleased.
“This was merely an Opportunity. The Zhang Family only discovered their tracks by chance.”
“Moreover, this is a Disciple’s duty. It is an honor to be able to contribute to the Sect.”
“Protector Ye, now that the wicked beast has been eliminated, it is time to drink and celebrate.”
“This pair of jade turtles is a personal gift from me. They have a wonderful ability to gather Spiritual Qi. Please, Protector Ye, you must accept them.”
After speaking, Zhang Liaoyuan took out a pair of jade turtles the size of a fingernail. Their jade was warm and moist, with a pure white mutton-fat color, and their carving was lively and lifelike.
Ye Yang’s expression changed. Although the Zhang Family had some foundation, they were not a prominent clan, and their etiquette was somewhat lacking.
There was no custom of giving a pair of turtles; wasn't this implying “double turtles” (雙龜, a homophone for “double investigation” or “double discipline” in Chinese)?
Furthermore, the Flying Heaven Gate had extremely strict regulations, so Ye Yang refused to accept it no matter what.
This, in turn, made Zhang Liaoyuan think even more highly of him.
…
The next day, before dawn, Ye Yang took the Giant Crocodile inner armor made by the Zhang Family and departed.
For the past few days, the Tuo Yun Horse had been exceptionally well-cared for at the Zhang Family, with ample food and shiny fur.
Upon seeing Ye Yang, it let out a neigh and, impatient, galloped away with all four hooves, crying out joyfully, speeding toward the distance.
A cloud of dust was stirred up from the ground.
As for the four Purple Lion Geese, because Ye Yang was still going to Wangyue Mountain and it was inconvenient to take them, he had the Zhang Family send them directly to the Flying Heaven Gate.
The dense forest was deep, allowing only faint visibility. Specks of sunlight filtered through the gaps of old trees, scattering onto the barren ground, forming patches of light.
As Ye Yang was about to pass through the secluded forest, a voice came.
“My little lover, why are you hiding from me? I never see you.”
Ye Yang looked up, startled, and cold sweat broke out all over him.
On a tree branch above, sat a woman dressed in white.
Her hair was disheveled, tied around her neck with a rope, hanging from the big tree, her feet swinging back and forth.
White clothes, red shoes, hair dancing in the wind, she opened her mouth to reveal a mouthful of toothpick-like fangs.
It was the same strange entity he had encountered on the road to the Myriad Bihu Marsh before. At that time, he had ridden the Tuo Yun Horse to shake off this strange entity.
But, he had not expected that this strange entity would catch up to him again!
Ye Yang’s hair stood on end, and cold sweat streamed down his face.
The eerie woman smiled, revealing a mouthful of sharp, toothpick-like teeth, as if she were laughing.
She held out the mummified infant in her swaddling clothes towards Ye Yang.
“Look, my love, this is our child. Don’t you remember?”
The mummified infant had a tail dangling from its backside, swinging continuously, and a human head was suspended from the tail, seemingly used as a snack.
The human face was gnawed and pitted.
“You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not your lover.”
“You are. Please don’t run, okay? I won’t eat you. Wait for me. A child can’t be without a father.”
“Lover, lover, don’t run, don’t you want our child anymore?”
“Go to hell!” Ye Yang roared, “Stop playing tricks!”
Ye Yang roared, his steel blade fiercely slashing out, flashing a brilliant silver light in the air, but it had no effect.
The strike passed directly through the opponent’s body without causing the slightest impact.
This eerie woman continued to follow him closely.
“Don’t run, don’t run! Lover, I promise I won’t hit you again, and I won’t cut your flesh to eat anymore.”
“Lover, why won’t you accept me? Is it because I’m not human?”
Ye Yang ran as fast as his legs could carry him, with the strange entity chasing behind.
A sharp pain shot through him, and Ye Yang clutched his neck, only to discover his back was bleeding profusely.
A huge wound had been gnawed into the back of his neck.
Enduring the pain, Ye Yang did not look back, but instead urged the Tuo Yun Horse to go faster and faster.
Fortunately, the Tuo Yun Horse was as fast as lightning, and could even manipulate vines to leap and move, gradually shaking off the strange entity behind him.
He couldn't help but secretly sigh with emotion, thanking the Tuo Yun Horse; otherwise, he would have met his end there today.
…
After the strange incident last night, Ye Yang no longer took mountain paths, but instead specifically sought out main roads.
Around two o’clock in the afternoon, the signs of human habitation around Ye Yang began to gradually increase.
The Tuo Yun Horse had been running all day, yet its power remained undiminished, traversing mountains and ridges, leaping and dodging, its golden horn on its head faintly glowing.
Many shrubs and wild grasses automatically moved to both sides, opening up a small path.
If it encountered a thick old tree, the Tuo Yun Horse would slightly bend its four hooves, moving its hooves together, stepping on the tree trunk, and galloping forward.
Ye Yang knew that after crossing this mountain, another eighty li of mountain road would lead to the Wind and Snow Tavern on Wangyue Mountain.
Originally, this place was a naturally perilous peak, with water-worn ravines, located on the summit of Dry Stone Mountain, experiencing continuous wind and snow year-round.
But precisely because this place was a vital transportation hub and a key commercial fortress.
The Loose Cultivators of Wangyue Mountain spent enormous manpower and resources to open up mountains, clear paths, level broken stones, erect sky ladders, and construct a market town.
On weekdays, it served as a resting and drinking place for passing merchants, and also sold some local specialties for exchange, trade, and circulating funds.
Who would have thought that after a hundred years, this market town’s reputation gradually grew, and merchants, Loose Cultivators, and clans came in an endless stream.
With people eating and horses chewing, and people coming and going, business flourished like a raging fire fueled by oil, burning ever larger.